Messi fit to face Porto: Inter Miami's Mascherano
ATLANTA: Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said Lionel Messi would be fit to face Porto at the Club World Cup on Thursday, despite showing signs of discomfort in training. A video emerged of Messi touching his left leg during the session on Wednesday, but Mascherano confirmed the veteran forward was ready for Miami's second Group A match in Atlanta.
'On the trip from Miami to Atlanta I saw that came out in some places, but Leo is fit, he trained, he completed the whole session,' Mascherano told reporters. 'He was touching his leg, sometimes people touch themselves, but there's no problem, he's fit and obviously he will play tomorrow.'
The coach said Messi's former Barcelona team-mate Jordi Alba was available after missing the opening 0-0 draw against Al Ahly due to injury. 'We'll evaluate what's best for us, if he starts or not,' said the coach. 'Actually, I already know but I won't tell you.' Mascherano meanwhile said retaining possession would be the key against Portugal's Porto, regular Champions League participants who are likely to provide the MLS team with a stern test.
'We have players who feel much more comfortable when they're in possession, dominating, and having control of the game through the ball,' said the Argentine. 'Of course, we're facing a team that also is used to doing that, who are a high level side. 'But on the pitch we're 11 against 11, we'll try to shut down their strengths, expose their weaknesses and try to have a great game to get a good result.'
Inter Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets, a member of Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning side and one of Messi's former Barcelona team-mates, admitted his team would be up against it at the Mercedes-Benz stadium. 'They have very good players, they have reinforced and we know that it will be very difficult,' Busquets told reporters.
'They are a team that compete every year for their league, against other great teams like Sporting and Benfica. 'We will try to be as solid as possible, stick close together and try to do the best we can as a team. 'If we get chances, we have the individuals (who can finish them), but above all we have to be solid and keep a clean sheet.' — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kuwait Times
5 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Messi fit to face Porto: Inter Miami's Mascherano
ATLANTA: Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said Lionel Messi would be fit to face Porto at the Club World Cup on Thursday, despite showing signs of discomfort in training. A video emerged of Messi touching his left leg during the session on Wednesday, but Mascherano confirmed the veteran forward was ready for Miami's second Group A match in Atlanta. 'On the trip from Miami to Atlanta I saw that came out in some places, but Leo is fit, he trained, he completed the whole session,' Mascherano told reporters. 'He was touching his leg, sometimes people touch themselves, but there's no problem, he's fit and obviously he will play tomorrow.' The coach said Messi's former Barcelona team-mate Jordi Alba was available after missing the opening 0-0 draw against Al Ahly due to injury. 'We'll evaluate what's best for us, if he starts or not,' said the coach. 'Actually, I already know but I won't tell you.' Mascherano meanwhile said retaining possession would be the key against Portugal's Porto, regular Champions League participants who are likely to provide the MLS team with a stern test. 'We have players who feel much more comfortable when they're in possession, dominating, and having control of the game through the ball,' said the Argentine. 'Of course, we're facing a team that also is used to doing that, who are a high level side. 'But on the pitch we're 11 against 11, we'll try to shut down their strengths, expose their weaknesses and try to have a great game to get a good result.' Inter Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets, a member of Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning side and one of Messi's former Barcelona team-mates, admitted his team would be up against it at the Mercedes-Benz stadium. 'They have very good players, they have reinforced and we know that it will be very difficult,' Busquets told reporters. 'They are a team that compete every year for their league, against other great teams like Sporting and Benfica. 'We will try to be as solid as possible, stick close together and try to do the best we can as a team. 'If we get chances, we have the individuals (who can finish them), but above all we have to be solid and keep a clean sheet.' — AFP
Kuwait Times
5 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Gattuso convinced Italy can qualify for World Cup
ROME: Gennaro Gattuso said Thursday he is convinced Italy can qualify for the World Cup as he begins his reign as Azzurri coach following the dismissal of Luciano Spalletti. Italy are at risk of missing out on a third consecutive World Cup after a troubled start to their qualifying campaign which has left them nine points behind Group I leaders Norway and cost Spalletti his job. Asked whether he had more hope or conviction that Italy could reach next year's finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico, Gattuso said: 'conviction'. 'I believe that we have good players available to us. We have four or five who are among the top 10 in the world in their position,' added Gattuso. 'We have a good team, but I do mean team, I'm not thinking about individuals. I'm convinced that the team has quality and I'm convinced that we can achieve our goal.' Gattuso has a tough job on his hands with only top spot in the group giving automatic qualification to the World Cup, even with Italy having played two fewer games than Norway. As well as the significant points gap Italy have a goal difference which is 12 goals worse than Norway, who hammered Italy 3-0 earlier in June. That leaves Italy with the play-offs, from which they failed to reach the last two tournaments, as their only realistic shot at qualification. 'We need to bring back the enthusiasm and not think negatively. My goal is to make sure that the players that come to (Italy's training center) Coverciano do so with great enthusiasm, and to create a family,' said Gattuso. 'After formations, technique and tactics the priority is to recreate that mentality that in the past has made us stand out.' Gattuso, a World Cup winner in 2006, was not the Italian Football Federation's first choice to replace Spalletti. Claudio Ranieri eventually turned down an appeal to come out of retirement, for a second time, to save his country's footballing fortunes. But Italy icon Gianluigi Buffon, now head of the national team delegation, said he believes Gattuso is capable of defying those who doubt his capabilities after an up-and-down coaching career. Gattuso, 47, was recently sacked by Hadjuk Split but has also managed AC Milan and Napoli, winning the Italian Cup with the latter club five years ago. 'I had a long playing career and every time I faced once of Rino's teams with Juventus they gave us a hard time, you had the idea that his teams had a precise identity, and that there was a lot of work and thought behind them,' said Buffon. 'It's very simple, when you're on the pitch you can tell straight away if behind the other team there is a good coach or not. And I every time I faced his Milan or Napoli team I could tell that was the case.' Gattuso will be in the dugout for the first time in September when Italy host Estonia in Bergamo before travelling to Hungary to take on Zionist entity. — AFP
Arab Times
6 hours ago
- Arab Times
Kuwait Olympic team begins preparations for the AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers
KUWAIT CITY, June 19: The Kuwait Olympic soccer team has commenced training at the auxiliary field of Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium as part of its preparation for the AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers, scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia in January 2026. Placed in Group B, Kuwait will face strong competition from Japan, Afghanistan, and Myanmar, with Myanmar set to host the qualifying tournament from September 1 to 9. The qualification format sees the top team from each of the ten groups, along with the five best second-placed teams, advancing to the final tournament. Saudi Arabia will join as the host nation, with the finals featuring 16 teams divided into four groups. The team's first training session included 23 players under the leadership of Croatian coach Dario Pesic and team manager Jarrah Al-Ateeqi. Before training began, a meeting was held emphasizing the importance of adhering to both technical and administrative instructions. Training will continue through June 30, when the team departs for an external training camp. During this period, three friendly matches are planned to help the technical staff evaluate the players' readiness and optimize the squad's preparation. Notably, three players—Abdulrahman Al-Rashidi, Moaz Al-Aseema, and Yousef Majed—were absent as they participated in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with Kuwait's senior national team. They are expected to rejoin training next Wednesday. Additionally, some players missed sessions due to academic exams but will return to the team soon.
